Bazaar lures local shoppers
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

A family from Tutong looking for cheap bargains at the bazaar

An enthusiastic and energetic response by the local population towards the bargain offered for multi-variety products at the International Bazaar, PGGMB Building in the capital has brought broad smiles to the organisers.

The bazaar, which was organised by the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board and co-organised by H.S and Sons, the event manager, was meant to collect donations for the Cambodian Muslims Fund. The event would be held until May 10 from 10 am to 10 pm every day.

A total of 56 booths occupying two floors displayed products mostly from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries as well as from Pakistan and India.

Some visitors said they were grateful to the organisers as the bazaar has given them a chance to do shopping locally in the wake of the devastating global outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Local traders filled up the numbers of exhibitors to offer items as well as promoting their products and establishments.

In the past few days, bargain hunters from places as far as Tutong, Seria and Kuala Belait flocked to the bazaar. A family from Tutong said they normally went to border towns but SARS had kept them at home this time. "This kind of bazaar should be held frequently as people definitely come. However, exhibitors should not take advantage by raising the price," said Rahim from Tutong.

Hj Momin bin Hj Salleh of H.S and Sons, the co-organiser, said the bazaar was organised for the second time in two months.

"Last month it was organised towards collecting fund for the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund. Because of the good response of the bazaar, the BSB Municipal Board decided to organise another one to collect donations for the Cambodian Muslims Fund," he said.

He added that they expected a better crowd over the weekends though he refused to divulge the amount each trade participant may be getting at the end of the bazaar.

Hj Momin also advised the trade operators not to increase their prices because people here will make comparison as they were frequent travellers to border towns.

"They must concentrate on disposing a large quantity of items and this can only be achieved by selling them at low prices and at minimum profit margin.

"Besides pricing strategy, innovation and initiative will be effective marketing tools during the current SARS crisis," he said.

Courtesy of Sunday Bulletin